Penguins' Crosby says he could miss rest of season
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A head injury has sidelined Penguins captain Sidney Crosby since Jan. 5.
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Sidney Crosby was back in the Penguins locker room Thursday, refreshed after a vacation he noted was based on doctor's orders.
"They just kind of told me to get out," the star center cracked.
Advice from the same medical staff has convinced Crosby that there is no guarantee he will recover from his concussion in time to play again this season, but he's going on the assumption that he will return before that becomes an issue.
"Geez, I hope so," Crosby said. "You know what? [Missing the rest of the season] could happen. But am I sitting here packing it in? No. I hope I'm back and, geez, I hope I play this year. But that's the thing with these things -- you don't know. There's no time frame. I'm expecting to play this year."
Internet reports and rumors have dogged Crosby, including speculation that it's a foregone conclusion his season is over.
"I'm sure there's a thousand different things being said out there, and that's one of them, but I expect to be playing," he said.
Crosby did not indicate whether he was still doing light workouts, which he got approval for about two weeks ago, or describe any remaining symptoms.
He will miss his 16th game tonight when the Penguins play on the road against the New York Islanders. He was leading the NHL with 66 points in 41 games when he left the lineup.
Crosby said the injury continues to concern him.
"Yeah, it's really scary," he said.
"There's not anything you can really compare it to. As far as being out and being away, how to deal with that, probably going back to when I hurt my ankle [in 2008], that helps me a bit.
"But this is a little different, when you're talking about your brain. It's scary, but to a certain extent there's nothing you can do except give yourself a chance to heal and hope that it happens sooner rather than later."
Crosby's main course of action is letting the medical staff know exactly what he's feeling so he can be accurately monitored. He has a record of being forthcoming with the Penguins about medical issues. He has sat out games, for example, because of a sore groin that he feared would keep him out longer if not given a chance to rest.
First Published February 11, 2011 12:00 am
